Separable cuff button



Feb. 9,1926.

B. F. BAKER SEPARABLE CUFF BUTTON Filed July 8, 1925 Patented ch. 9, 192%.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. BAKER, OF ST. STEPHEN, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA.

SEPARABLE CUFF BUTTON.

Application filedJuly 8, 1925.

ments in separable Guilt Buttons, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a separable cufi' button and one object of the invention is to provide a cuff button or" this type in which the two sections of the button may be very securely held together and easily disconnected when desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cuft' button in which one section is hollow and the other section provided with a "headed stein adapted to fit into the hollow section, improved gripping jaws being mounted in the hollow section for gripping engagen'ient with the headed stem of the other section. and means being provided in the head of the hollow section to move the jaws to a releasing position when so desired.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the jaws that they may be easily assembled when the hollow button sectihn is manufactured and retained in the shank of this section by a cap secure upon a head at the inner end of the hollow shank.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved type of spring which is mounted in the outer head of the hollow section and extends radially of the head for operative engagement with the free ends of the gripping jaws.

Another object of the invention is to provide a button in which the gripping jaws, spring for the jaws and means for moving the jaws to a releasing position will be housed almost entirely within the hollow button section where they will be protected and prevented from being damaged it the button section is dropped or roughly handled.

This invention is. illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved button with the two sections separated; 1

Fig. 2 is a view showing the sections of the button assembled, the hollow section being shown in longitudinal section and the other section in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view Serial No. 42,282.

through the outer head of the hollow section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4: is a transverse sectional view.

through the shank portion of the hollow section taken on the line H of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 1s a transverse sectional view through the inner head of the hollow section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlar ed view of the plunger which serves to move the jaws to a releasing position, and

Fig. 7 is a view showing one of the gripping jaws cut longitudinally and illustrated in perspective.

The button is in the form of separable.

locked together until the releasing means carried by the button 1 is actuated to cause the stenr3 of the button 2 to be released and permit of the sections being drawn apart.

The section 1 is hollow and includes an outer head 4:, an inner head 5 and a shank or neck 6 which connects the inner head with the outer head. The shank 6 is preferably formed integral with the inner head 5 and has its outer end portion reduced so that the reduced outer end portion may be passed through an opening formed in the inner disk 7 of the outer head 4 and rolled into tight clinching engagement with the disk 7 as shown in Fig. 2. The outer disk or cap 8 of the head 4 has its peripheraliportion rolled into clinching engagement with the periphery of the inner disk 7 and may have its outer face ornamented or left plain. It will be obvious that if. desired the outer disk or cap 8 may be formed of gold or other precious metal, whereas the inner disk 7 and shank and inner head may be of a cheaper material.

The jaws 9 which are disposed in the hollow shank 6 are formed of strong metal and their outer portions are substantially semi-circular in cross section, as shown at 9, so that, when in place, they may fit snugly within the shank and permit the stem 3 to be easily forced inwardly between them. Each jaw is of a length to extend from the outer face of the inner head 5 to a point within the hollow outer head i and has its tree inner end portion provided with an outwardly extending longitudinally curved lip or flange 10. Side arms 11 which serve as pivot pins for the jaws extend transversely from opposite sides thereof, as shown in Fig. 5, and fit into recesses 12 formed in the head 5 so that the jaws are pivotally mounted at their outer ends and may have their inner end portions moved towards and away from each other into and out of a gripping position- It will, of course, be obvious that normally the inner free end portions ofthe aws are spaced from the walls of the shank 6 a sufi'icient distance to permit them to be moved away from each other when it is desired to release the stem 3. Th curved portions 9 ot' the jaws taper from their outer ends towards their inner ends, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, and thereby provide cam surfaces so that, when the stem 3 is thrust between the jaws, its shouldered 'head 1.3 may force the jaws apart against the action of the spring 14 as the head moves inwardly into position where it may fit into the openings or sockets latt'ormed in the jaws at the forward ends of the tapered portions 9. The spring 1i is formed of a strand of resilient wire which is substantially U-shaped, as shown in Fig. 3, and has its bridge portion secured beneath a tongue 16 cut from the peripheral portion of the disk 7 and its arms 17 extended substantially radially of the disk and engaged with the free end portions of the jaws beneath the lips or flanges 10. It should be noted that the arms 17 ot the spring are bent, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the free ends of the arms will be normally very close to each other, and, therefore, wnen sprung into position for engaging the jaws will provide a very good spring action and serve to very firmly hold the jaws in gripping engagement with the head 13 of the stern 3. In order to re move the stem from between the jawswhen it is desired to-separate the button sections, it is necessary to movethe free end portions of the jaws away from each-other against the action of the spring. In order to do so, there has been provided a plunger 18 which is carried by the hollow outer head a and includes a tapered wedge-forming head 19 disposed within the hollow head t and astem 20 which projects outwardly through an opening 21 formed centrally of the outer cap 8. The inner end of th wedge-shaped head 19 fits between the flared free end portions 10 of the jaws, and it will be obvious that, when the plunger is forced inwardly by pressure applied to the outer 22 is provided upon the outer face of the inner head 5 and has its peripheral portion rolled into clinching engagement with the head 5, as shown in Fig. 2, so that this cap plate is securely held in place. The open ing 23 which is formed centrally in the plate 22 is of sufiicient size to permit the stem and its head 13 to be moved into and out of the hollow shank through the cap but the cap plate extends in overlying relation to the pivot arms or pins 11 and outer ends of the jaws so that the jaws will be prevented from slipping outwardly and becoming dislodged.

lVhen the button is in use, the section 1 is inserted in the buttonhole at one side of a cult with the cult disposed about the shank 6 and between the heads 4 and 5. The section 2 is inserted in the buttonhole at the other side of the cufl with the cult disposed about its shank 24 and between its inner and outer heads 25 and 26. The stem 3 extends from the inner head 25 of the section 2 and by applying pressure to the outer heads at and 26, the stem may be forced inwardly between the jaws. As the stem passes inwardly between the jaws, it will cause the jaws to be moved apart until the head 13 reaches the sockets 15. The spring 1 1 will then move the jaws towards each other and o Jposed portions of the head 13 will be firmly seated in the sockets 15. c The two button sections will, therefore, be very securely held together and cannot readily work loose. When it is desired to release the button sections, it is sin iply necessary to grasp the head 4 at opposite sides ot' its periphery and by applying pressure to the outer end of the stem 20 force the plunger 18 inwardly so that the head 19 will be moved inwardly between the flared free ends of the jaws and force the jaws apart a suitieientdistance to release the head 13 and permit the stem 3 to be withdrawn. There has, therefore, been provided a separable cu'ti button which will be neat in its appearance and so constructed that the two sections may be securely held together but readily released when so desired.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1; A button comprising separable sections, each includinginner and outer heads and a shank connecting said heads, one section having its shank and outer head hollow and its shank communicating with the hollow head and opening through the inner head and at its outer end provided with recesses extending radially into the inner head and constituting pivot seats, j aws disposed longitudinally in said hollow shank and at their outer ends providedwith pivot pins fitted in said seats and mounting the jaws for swinging movement and out of gripping position, the tree ends of said jaws being extended into said hollow head, a spring "in said 1101- low head provided with arms extending substantially radially of the head towards the free ends of said jaws and engaged therewith to yieldably retain the jaws in a gripping position, a plunger disposed axially of the hollow head and engageable with the free ends of said arms to move the arms to a releasing position when pressed inwardly, and a stem extending from the inner head of the other section and adapted to be inserted between said jaws and gripped thereby to retain the sections in engagement with each other.

2. A button comprising separable sections,

each including inner and outer heads and a shank connecting said heads, one section having its shank and outer head hollow and its shank communicating with the hollow head and opening through the inner head and at its outer end provided with recesses extending radially into the inner head and constituting'pivot seats, jaws disposed longitudinally in said hollow shank and at their outer ends provided with pivot pins fitted in said seats and mounting the jaws for swinging movement into and out of a gripping position, the free ends of said jaws being extended into said hollow head, spring means in said hollow head straddling the free end portions of said jaws engaging the sides thereof to move the jaws towards each other and yieldably retain the jaws in a gripping position, a stem extending from the inner head of the other section and adapted to be inserted between said jaws and gripped thereby, and a plunger disposed axially of said hollow head and provided with a wedge portion disposed between the free ends of said jaws and serving to move the jaws to a releasing position when the plunger is moved inwardly.

3. A button comprising separable sections, each including inner and outer heads and a shank connecting said heads, one section having its shank and outer head hollow and its shank communicating with the hollow head and opening through the inner head and at its outer end provided with recesses extending radially into the inner head and constituting pivot seats, jaws disposed longitudinally in said hollow shank and at their outer ends provided with pivot pins fitted in said seats and mounting the jaws for swinging movement into and out of a gripping position, the free ends of said jaws being extended into said hollow head. spring means in said hollow head engaged with the free end portions of said jaws to yieldably retain the jaws in a gripping position, a stem extending from the inner head of the other section and adapted to be inserted between said jaws and gripped thereby, and means carried by said hollow head to engage the free ends of said jaws and when actuated move the jaws to a releasing posi tion. I

4. A button comprising separable sections, each including inner and outer heads and a shank connecting said heads, one section having its shank and outer head hollow and its shank connnunicat-ing with the hollow head and opening through the inner head and at its outer end provided with re cesses extending radially into the inner head and constituting pivot seats, jaws disposed longitudinally in said hollow shank and at their outer ends provided with pivot p'ns titted in said seats and mounting the jaws for swinging movement into and out of a gripping position, the free ends of said jaws being extended into said hollow head, a cap carried by the inner head and overlying said pins toretain the pins within said recesses, said cap having an opening registering with space between said jaws, spring means in said hollow head engaging the free ends of said jaws and yieldably retaining the jaws in agripping position, a stem extending from the inner head of the other section and adapted to be inserted between said jaws and gripped thereby, and

means carried by said hollow head to move said jaws to a releasing position.

5. A button comprising sepa'able sections, each including inner and outer heads and a shank connecting the heads, one section having its outer head and shank hollow and the hollow shank communicating with the hollow outer head and opening through the inner head and at its outer end provided wit-h opposed recesses extending radially of the head, jaws disposed longitudinally in said hollow shank with their inner end portions extending into the hollow head and at their outer ends provided with side pins extending into said recesses and mounting the jaws -for pivotal movement towards and away from each other, a stem extending from the inner head of the other section and adapted to be passed inwardly between said jaws and adapted for gripping engagement by the jaws, a U-shaped sprin secured in said hollow head adjacent its periphery and having its arms extending in straddling relation to said jaws and engaging the free end portions thereof to yieldably hold the jaws in a gripping position, and a plunger disposed axially of the hollow head and hav'ng an operating stem extending out of the head and a wedge-shaped body in the hollow head fitting between the free ends of said jaws and adapted to move the jaws to a releasing position when its stem is pressed inwardly. 1

6. A button comprising separable sections, each having a shank and a head at the outer end thereof, the head and shank of one section being hollow, jaws extending longitudinally in said hollow shank and pivotally mounted at the end thereof, the adjacent faces of said jaws being concaved and adjacent their free ends provided with sockets, the said free ends of said jaws projecting into said hollow head and having outwardly disposed abutment flanges, a U- shaped spring secured in said hollow head adjacent its periphery and having its arms engaging said jaws beneath said flanges and yieldably resisting; movement of the jaws away from each other the other of said sections being provided with a stern extending axially of its shank and adapted to be inserted into said hollow shank between said jaws and having a. headat-its free end to be seated in said sockets, and means carried by said hollowhead for moving said jaws away from each other to a releasing position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signa- 20 ture.

BENJAMIN F. BAKER. [1. s] 

